Switch arrangement, particularly for use in electrotherapeutic treatments



1, 1942. F. LANDAUER 2,290,688

swI'rcH ARRANGEMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN ELECTED-THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RHEOSTAT 11 FDWEK LINE T0 FILTER PULIISATION OFF ON BAT. m Z75 225 225 45 BAT. POW.

PAIR ELECTRODES INVENTOR. RED 1 ANDHUER.

July 21, 1942. N U R 2,290,688 SWITCH ARRANGEMENT, PARTIUULARLY FOR USE IN ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 720 h v I m 'k 65 It If O v; 50 57\ I I 52 l 55 50a 5/ i INVENTOR. 5/ 5?:50 [HMO/405R.

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Patented July 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca SWITCH ARRANGEMENT, PARTICULARLY ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC FOR USE IN TREATMENTS Fred Landauer, New York, N. Y. Application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,952

15 Claims.

This invention relates in general to electrogalvanic baths or electro-therapeutic treatment plants and more particularly to a switching or controlling arrangement for such treatment plants or baths.

It is an object of the vide a switching or controlling arrangement or switch board having means for operating one or more pairs of electrodes in electro-therapeutic treatments.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a switching arrangement for connecting one pair of electrodes to a current source and another pair of electrodes employed in the same plant to a current source which is similar to or different from that of the aforementioned kind.

still a further object of the present invention is to provide a polarity changing means included in the aforesaid switch board whereby the direction of current to and from the electrodes may be altered during treatment of a patient and without any injurious effect to him.

Yet another object or the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby the current intensity may be first set to zero before the aforesaid polarity changing means can be oper ated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a current source having different tapping points whereby to selectively produce different wattage values between difierent pairs of electrodes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical system, particularly but not exclusively employable in conjunction with therapeutic baths by which the electrical treatment may be quantitatively, qualitatively or directionally controlled or regulated in order to present invention t proprovide a substantial local treatment of a human body part while the remaining part of said body is subjected to the influence of an electrical charge which may differ from that applied 10- cally.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means for controlling (by switching on and oil) the main switch for the circuit of the electrodes dependent on the positioning of the rheostat regulating the current intensity to said electrodes.

Accordingly, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts, all as will be illustratively set forth in the following description, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawings forms in which conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically represents a control or switching system employable in the invention.

Fig. 1a is a diagrammatic view of the panel board on which the means are mounted for actuating the. system shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 2 and 3 show partly in section and diagrammatically two different positions of pole changing means used in connection with the invention, said means forming part of an apparatus shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 4 is aigperspective view of the pole changing and controlling means built in the apparatus of Fig. 7.

Fig. 5 shows in perspective (parts being broken away) switch means employable in the invention.

Fig. 6 shows the generator and driving means housed in lower portion (shown in section) of the apparatus of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a rollable control and switching apparatus including polarity changing means for the electrodes employed in therapeutic baths.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and la, there is disclosed a system and its actuating means, for controlling the fed current to, say, two pairs of electrodes placed within a medicinal bath;

The wiring system therefor is clearly shown in Fig. 1 and the panel board in Fig. la. There may be provided two difi'erent sources of electric power derived respectively from battery I0 having terminals Illa, ltib, Mic; Nib being a. middle tap. In the drawing, the voltage of battery l0 between terminal Nib and being 22.5 volts and between ing 45 volts. These terminals, switches ll, l2, l3 and it that either 22.5 volts or 45 volts may be drawn from battery In as desired. The battery current may be controlled by main switch l1.

The other power source may derive from the main power line IS the A. C.-current of which is passed through a rectifier and if desired through a filter system (both not shown, but well known in the art) and leads to the off-on switch l1 and to terminals on switches l4 and I 3, as clearly seen in Fig. l. Rheostats I and II are employed to finely control the current intensity desired for the respective pairs of electrodes.

For each pairs of electrodes, there is provided lilc is indicated as Illa and Hlc as berespectively lead to of panel board l5 so the invention may be current and to set the current switches it or ii to zero (rheostat I). To this end, polarity changer l9 contains resistances it), 2i which (le crease the current intensity to a minimum to permit change of polarity at the electrodes (not shown) without shocking the patient within the bath.

Instrument 22 controls the pulsations from the power line it. Ammeters 23, 26 are employed in the circuits shown in Fig. l to indicate the respective currents in milliamperes," while instrument 25 indicates the wattage consumed by either pair of electrodes, separate switches 26, 27 are provided to momentarily cut in the respective pair of electrodes. Low voltage control lamp 223 is connected to the circuit to indicate whether the power coming from the rectifier is turned on or oil.

In order to operate switch board it, first assuming that pair of electrodes til is to be charged with current coming from the power line it and pair of electrodes til is to be switched on battery of 22.5 voltage, the following manipulations on the switch board l are made:

Switch it is thrown to power and switch it is thrown to battery side. Switch 02 is connected to terminals leading to 22.5 voltage of the battery it and .finally switch fill is turned to err-position. Rheostats I and II, respectively, regulate the respective desired values of current intensity at the pairs of electrodes it and ll. in order to change the polarity for said electrodes the aforesaid po= larity changers 2t and 28 are operated in a man:- ner as above described.

It is well understood that to change over to battery supply, pair of electrodes til are switched on in the following manner: Switch ill is first turned oil and switch it is thrown to the battery side and switch it is thrown to connect with any of the terminals of switch it carrying 22.5 voltage; and finally switch ll is then turned to "on= position and rheostat I may be operated to finely regulate the current intensity for the pair of electrodes All.

Thus, it may easily pairs of electrodes may to charge the medium or be realized that the two be respectively employed medical bath liquid with electrical current from diiferent supply sources and to be applied in particular to a local part of the human body by ,one pair of the electrodes while the entire body of the patient is subjected to an electrically charged bath by the other pair of electrodes, which may be positioned, for example, at the ends of the bath tub. a

It is obvious, that the above outlined switching and controlling arrangement may be used in other electrical systems and devices.

It will be further apparentirom the above that it is possible to employ as a common supply source, for instance the power line coming from the rectifier and controlling one pair of electrodes, say, 40 by rheostat I and the other pair of electrodes M. by rheostat 11, whereby difl'erent wattage values may be obtained at the respective pairs of electrodes. It is to be noted that the rectifier unit and the batteryabove referred to lacent the bath tub so lid .a motor-generator arrangement can. be housed in separate casings and removably set in into a receptacle having the switch board or panel l5 (shown in Fig. 1a). In that event, if desired, it will be possible to withdraw the rectifier unit from the receptacle and to place it near the main power line, whereas the controlling apparatus containing the battery and the' connections to the rectifier can be placed adthat only low voltage current may be employed in the bath room. Instead of the rectifier a further battery may be placed in said receptacle so that the electrodes may have two different battery supply sources. As seen from Fig. la the polarity changers i8, is have more than two output channels, it being possible to thus connect to one pair or electrodes, say ii, at least a further electrode in parallel with the plusor minus-electrode of said pair of electrodes.

Another embodiment of the invention as employed for operation or one pair of electrodes is disclosed in l 'ig. '7 and in greater detail in Figs. 2 to 5.

The control apparatus 5t which may contain (Fig. 6) in its lower part 50a is provided at its legs with castors 5! in order to facilitate displacement of th apparatus. The upper part 52 of the apparatus consists of a housing closed by a switchboard or panel 53 on which is mounted polarity changer 54 and which may carry other controlling means (not shown), for example; such as hereinbefore mentioned with reference to Figs. 1 and 1a.

The polarity changer may be of the portable type, such as referred to in my U. S. Pat. No. 2,240,504 or may be set into panel 53 and actuated in a manner about to be described. When it becomes necessary to change the polarity at the bath electrodes during treatment of the patient and while the same is subjected within the bath to a predetermined current intensity (A. C. or D. C.), it would be harmful and injurious to the patient to change the polarity of the electrodes without first setting back the current intensity to zero. In order to positively effectuate such switch manipulation the following instrumentalities maybeprovided.

Polarity changer 54 consists f a lever 55 which blades 60a, Na and 62a, 63a. Contact blades 60a and 63a are both connected to one pole of a current source (such 'as shown in Fig. 6), whereas contact blades Gla and 82a are jointed to the other pole of said source. It will thus be apparent that, when swinging lever 55 into'either of its extreme positions, as indicated by Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, respectively, a polarity change will be had with respect to the electrodes (not shown), the latter being for example, connected to terminals ill, 65, respectively.

I In order to positively regulate and control the change of polarity, provision must be made to release lever, 55 from its locking means 10 so. that the lever 55 may accomplish its swinging movement from one to another of itsextreme positions (Figs. 2, 3). The locking means 10 within apparatus housing 52. Above traverse I3 is movably positioned a panel 14 which is supported bysprings Ha, Ha surrounding the fingers H and 12 and extending between traverse 13 and panel 14. Mounted on shaft at 15a and for rotation therewith is segmental lever 16 having at one of its ends handle 11 and adjacent its other end a slot 18 of a shape as clearly disclosed in Figs. 7 and 4. Slot 18 has an extension 19 which is angularly directed with respect to slot 18 for a purpose hereinafter described. Shaft 15 fixedly carries at its end 1517 a contact finger 80 which engages with rheostat II. It will thus be realized that upon rotation of shaft I5 (which is suitably held in bearings 01 housing 52, not shown) by means of handle 11 of lever 16, finger 80 will actuate rheostat 8| which is connected to the power source (Fig. 6) through socket I (Fig. Thus, the intensity of current with which the electrodes may be charged, can be regulated according to scale division 18a (Fig. 5) provided on segment part of lever I6. In order to cut into circuit the said current supply or power source, a switch box 90 is provided. within housing 52 which box comprises a contact lever SI for closing and opening the circuit for the electrodes to which current may be supplied through wires 92a and 93b of cable 92, and through socket llliL'rheostat 80, 8| and terminals 64, 65. Lever 9| projects from within switch box 90 through slot 93 and is pivoted on stud 94 traversing box 90. Lever BI is normally held in its oil-position (shown in Fig. 5) by a spring 95.

The operationof the polarity changer in connection with the current switch arrangement hereinabove set forth' is as follows: As soon as lever 55 has assumed one of its extreme positions (Fig. 2 or Fig. 3), lever 9| may be moved against tension of spring 95 in the direction of arrow A from its off-, to its on-position within slot 19 whereafter lever 16 may be rotatably moved by handle 11 together with shaft 15 whereby the desired intensity of current may be regulated as explained 'above; lever end 9la which forms an indicator relatively to scale division 18a being then retained in on-position through slot E8 of lever 16 which may be moved in the direction of arrow B (Fig. 5). Upon rotative movement of lever 16 together with shaft 15 a cam or follower 16a fixed to the latter engages with panel M and presses the same against tension of springs Ho and 12a downwardly into a position, illustrated in dot-dash lines so that pins or finger H, 12 assume, respectively locking positions, indicated by numerals 1 lb and 1212, thus eifectively preventing lever 55 from being operated or swung from its extreme position, either shown in Fig. 2 or 3.

While lever 16 has been moved back to zero (against direction of arrow B) and lever 9| has entered slot 19 thus automatically switching-off the current supply, pins H and 12 will be withdrawn from their locking positions (1 lb and 7121)), thus permitting again operation of lever 55 for causing change of polarity at terminals 6% and 65 and at their respective electrodes (not shown).

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention an apparatus for switching or controlling electro-therapeutic treatment plants, which comprises a switch panel including switch means and means for regulating electric current, a medium for conducting electric current, a plurality of terminals placed in electrical contact with said medium, and electric current supply means including a plurality of circuits connected to said terminals and regulating means, respectively, said regulating means for controlling said circuits to said terminals, respectively, when the latter are cut into their respective circuits upon operation of said switch means, whereby electric currents of different values may be conducted to said respective terminals and simultaneously imparted thereby to said medium.

As, many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a switch panel including switch means and means for regulating electric current, a medium for conducting electric current, a plurality of terminals placed in electrical contact with said medium, and electric current supply means including a plurality of circuits connected to said terminals and regulating means, respectively, said regulating means for controlling said circuits to said terminals, respectively, when the latter are cut into their respective circuits upon operation of said switch means, whereby electric currents of different values may be conducted to said respective terminals and simultaneously imparted thereby to said medium.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a switch panel including switch means and means for regulating electric current, a liquid medium for conducting electric current, a plurality of pairs of terminals placed in said liquid medium, and electric current supply means including a plurality of circuits connected to said pairs of terminals and regulating means, respectively, said regulating means for controlling said circuits to said pairs of terminals, respectively, when the latter are cut into their respective circuits upon operation of said switch means, whereby electric current of different values may be conducted through said respective pairs of terminals simultaneously to said liquid medium.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a switchboard including switch means, means for regulating electric current and a plurality of output channels, a liquid medium for conducting electric current, a plurality of terminals placed in said liquid medium, and electric current supply means including a plurality of cirtsuits connected to said terminals and output channels, respectively, said regulating means be ing joined to and adapted to control said circuits of said terminals, respectively, when the latter are cut into their respective circuits upon operation of said switch means, whereby electric currents of different values may be caused to flow simultaneously between said respective terminals within said liquid medium.

4. An apparatus of the character described,

comprising a switchboard, a liquid for conducting electric current therethrough, a plurality of terminals placed in said liquid, a plurality of elec-' tric current sources including respective circuits connected to said terminals, means to quantitatively regulate the electric currents to said terminals, means to qualitatively control said electric currents to said terminals, and means to change the polarity of said terminals, all said means being connected to said switchboard, whereby upon operation of said means, respectively, electric current may flow between respective terminals through said liquid in predetermined directions and with different wattage values, selectively.

5. In an electro-therapeutic plant, having at least two pairs of electrodes; electric current supply means including electric circuits for said electrodes, and a switchboard including controlling means connectable to said circuits of said current supply means, one of said controlling means being adapted to cut one pair of said electrodes into one of the circuits from one of said supply means, another of said controlling means being adapted to switch on another pair of electrodes to another of said supply means, both said supply means differing inwattage from one another.

6. An apparatus, particularly for use in connectionwith electro-therapeutic treatments and having a plurality of electrodes; comprising a switchboard including regulating means, a plurality of sources for electric current supply including electric circuits connected to said regulating means, respectively, and output Channels disposed at said switchboard and controllable by said regulating means, said electrodes being removably connectable with said output channels, whereby the respective electrical outputs at said electrodes may be selectively adjusted with respect to each other.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means are included for changing polarity between each pair of electrodes.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of said sources for electric current supply is constituted by A.C.power line includingarectifier unit, whereas the other of said sources for electric current supply is formed by a battery.

being provided with pairs of contacts connected, respectively, to said electric current sources, whereby upon operation of said switch means electric current flow may be selectively switched in from either of said electric current sources to electrodes connected to said output channels and maybe adjusted by said regulating means.

12. In an apparatus of the character described including a liquid bath adapted to conduct electric current therethrough and a plurality of electrodes placed in electrical contact with said bath; at least two separate electric current supply sources, and a switchboard provided with switch means including polarity changing means, with electric current regulating means and with a plurality of output channels; said channels being. connectable through said switch means to said electric current supply sources, respectively, and being arranged to removably receive wire connections to said electrodes, said switch means being provided with pairs of contacts connected,

respectively, to said electric current sources, whereby upon' operation of said switch means electric current flow may be selectively switched in from either of said electric current sources to electrodes connected to said output channels and may be adjusted by said regulating means. and

a said polarity changing means.

- trodes'placed in said bath; at least two difierent 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sources for electric current supply are different from each other and are separately regulatable by said regulating means. 10. An apparatus according to claim 6, includ-' ing polarity changing means, and locking means cooperable with said polarity changing means,

whereby operation of said polarity. changing 11. In an apparatus of the character described including a medium adapted to conduct electric .means may be efiected upon release of said lock- 'ing means.

ing connectable through said switch means to said electric current supply sources, respectively,

and being arranged to removably receive wire connections to said electrodes, said switch means electric current supply sources, one of said sources being an A. C. line including a rectifier the other of said sourcesbeing a battery, a switch- I board provided with a plurality of switch means, with means for regulating the intensity of electric current and with a plurality of output channels; said channelsbeing connectable selectively by said switch means to said electric current supply sources, respectively, and being adapted for connection with predetermined electrodes, eachof said switch means being provided with pairs of contacts connected, respectively, .to said electric current sources, whereby upon operation rent-supply sources are separately regulatable by said regulating means.

a FRED LANDAUER. 

